For more information about the North Dakota Department of Health Mosquito Trapping Program contact: Michelle Henke, Mosquito Surveillance Coordinator at 701.328.6272

The West Nile virus has become a growing public health concern in North Dakota due to the increase of human cases in the last few years. To remedy this problem we must attempt to control the vector of West Nile virus. The vector implicated in the spread of the West Nile virus is the mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds that carry the virus in their blood. Within 10 to 14 days, the mosquito's salivary glands become infected and those infected mosquitoes can then transmit virus to humans and other animals during a blood feeding. The mosquito injects the virus into the animal or human where it multiplies and may cause illness. Currently, 36 species of mosquito are considered indigenous to the state of North Dakota. Of the 36 North Dakota species, 12 are known carriers of West Nile virus.

The vectors found to transmit West Nile virus and Western Equine Encephalitis have primarily been mosquitoes of the Culex
species. In North Dakota there are approximately 100 sites statewide that
are designated as mosquito trapping sites with a total of 100 New Jersey Mosquito Traps covering all 53 counties. (Click here to see the map of the sites) The New Jersey Mosquito Traps are collected every week and sent to the North Dakota
Division of Laboratory Services where the total number of mosquitoes is counted. The number of male mosquitoes is determined as well as the number of female Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles and
other species trapped in each area of the state.